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Theatre Review: Raisin in the sun

Described as the play that changed American theatre forever, A Raisin in the Sun comes to the Nottingham Playhouse...

Controversial comic woos the Canalhouse crowd

Award-winning joker Alfie Brown is on the comeback tour after a year when he was 'cancelled.' And the route for that comeback winds through Nottingham... 

Five of Nottingham's nastiest drag queens go head to head in the battle of the bitches

Liv Presents: The Prohibition Roast is another of the amazing comedy nights lined up at the Lord Roberts and part of the wider Nottingham Comedy Festival. But with wit as sharp as broken glass, do you dare go down to the basement...  

More photos: JT Soar Fest 2024 at the Old Cold Store

Long live The Bodega! We celebrate its 25th anniversary

Ah that special spot on 23 Pelham Street. From countless life-affirming gigs and hazy club nights inside the venue, to summer sessions outside in the quaint back alley of Cobden Chambers, The Bodega has been one of our city’s chief memory makers over the last quarter century.

Now to celebrate the iconic venue’s 25th anniversary this month, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane with the bands, promoters and staff that have helped this space to endure as a cornerstone of our city’s vibrant music scene and nightlife, by reliving some of their favourite Bodega moments.

Gig review: Bob Vylan at Rock City

This time last year, Bob Vylan took to the Rock City stage to preview new material off their (at-the-time) forthcoming new album, Humble As The Sun. Fast forward to now, and the grime-punk duo are once again playing the UK’s best live music venue, but this time with the album tracks now firm favourites amongst their wild fanbase. To see how they are being received first-hand, we headed along to the show to capture the chaos…

Finding your palette: we tried a colour analysis with Lisa Loves Style

Colour consultant and personal stylist Lisa Wood from Lisa Loves Style, has a career built on inspiring others to embrace the rainbow, and find empowerment and inner strength from the clothes they wear. Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon caught up with Lisa at her West Bridgford studio to find out more about how a decades-old styling method is helping others feel more confident in the skin they’re in.

We chat with Ian Broudie about goals, inspirations and Nottingham memories

The Lightning Seeds were formed in 1989 and named after a misheard Prince lyric, with frontman Ian Broudie going on to become one of the best tunesmiths of his generation, a writer of wonderfully melodic and uplifting indie-pop songs tinged with the band's custom vulnerability. Ahead of the band's return to Nottingham on 14th November, as part of their tour celebrating 35 years of the band and aptly timed to follow up on the release of their Greatest Hits album, Tomorrow’s Here Today, we had the chance to speak to frontman, producer and songwriter Ian Broudie...

How a Mini Cooper led to success on the stage and an acclaimed solo performance of A Christmas Carol

Guy Masterson's renowned Scrooge performance is coming to the Playhouse. He lets Leftlion in on how Richard Burton helped him along the way...

Breaking ground: we catch up with Nottingham Forest Women

Forest Women are no strangers to the top of the table. The dream of climbing the ranks to the Women’s Super League is aspirational, but with the recent announcement that  Nottingham Forest  Women will be a full-professional club by 2025/26, now feels within reach. Megan Hill caught up with Amber Wildgust, Head of Women and Girls Football at Nottingham Forest, to find out what turning pro means for the future of the club, both on and off the pitch.

Film Review: Small Things Like These

A delicate and moving portrayal of a specific trauma, the Irish Magdalen Laundries, but one that speaks to the universal conflict between what's right and what's easy.

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The queer reimagining of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly

Mariposa, the queer reimagining of Madame Butterfly, is about to play at Lakeside Arts. The creative force behind this new dance work, choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra, talks to Leftlion about his journey this far...   

Everything Everything: In Conversation with Chris Hawkins at Saltbox

Art-rockers Everything Everything have already performed twice in Nottingham this year, having launched their latest opus Mountainhead at Rough Trade back in March before bringing the album to life at Rock City a month later in April. However, this their third show of the year in Notts was something a bit different, with frontman Jonathan Higgs and guitarist/producer Alex Robertshaw sitting down with BBC 6Music presenter Chris Hawkins, to talk through their career and play acoustic tracks from each of their albums. With the promise of a special night down at Saltbox, we went along to observe this unique event and report back what we learned…

In photos: The Mouse Outfit at Peggy's Skylight

Comedy Review: Juliette Burton in the LOL-GBTQ+ at the Lord Roberts Comedy Festival

Juliette Burton offers more than just laughs in her stand-up performances... 

Review: Aren't We Havin' A Good Time (Short film)

A short poignant film about dementia and the toll it takes on both sufferers and the people who love them...

Gig review: Seckou Keita and the Homeland Band at Metronome

Bringing a taste of Senegal to Metronome on a dark October night, Seckou Keita and the Homeland Band performed a rich and blistering set...

Gig review: Sum 41 at Motorpoint Arena

For over 30 years, Sum 41 have remained one of the biggest names in pop punk. For 90s kids like me, the band would soundtrack our adolescence, with their impressive catalogue of hits finding their way into numerous parts of 00s pop culture. Sadly though, all good things must come to an end, with the band announcing these Autumn dates will be their last ever here in the UK. So, to bid a final farewell to a band that many grew up with, we headed over to the arena to catch Sum 41’s last show here in Nottingham…

Gig review: Bloodworm at The Bodega

Bloodworm’s sold-out Halloween gig at The Bodega was nothing short of iconic, packed with humour, heavy riffs, and Halloween energy that Nottingham fans won’t forget anytime soon. With support from the mesmerising Swallowtail, the night was a celebration of raw talent and dedication from both bands…

Gig review: Uncle Lucius at The Bodega

It's a long road from Texas to The Bodega, but Uncle Lucius made that journey last week, filling the intimate Nottingham venues with tales of whiskey, bar fights and God's own country...

Chapters of history: author Simon Smalley turns the pages on Nottingham’s queer past

The history of St. Ann’s has always been a fascinating one. Today, the idea that the council could bulldoze entire areas of communities separating neighbours and friends is one that is difficult to imagine. However, for those who lived it, it’s still all too real. CJ De Barra speaks to St Ann’s born-and-bred author Simon Smalley about growing up in the area as a young gay man in the 60s and 70s.

Notts County Council Seeks Opinions on New Ten-Year Library Plan

As the County Council launches a consultation on its new ten-year library strategy, Dr David Hindley of Nottingham Trent University wonders what that will mean...

LeftLion's Latest Listens #9: Notts music we're currently spinning

In this week's LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Luna & The Lime Slices, The Junipers, Jude Forsey and Kelsey & The Embers ...

Gig review: Young T & Bugsey at Rescue Rooms

Bugsey and Young T got Nottingham moving at their first hometown show in eight years, headlining Rescue Rooms. We were there to see it all...